|
|
Jan. 15: Introduction/What is Culture?/What is Russia?
Reflection Paper 1 (Due Jan. 24): What does the word "culture" mean to you? How would you sum up American culture or any other culture you are familiar with? Is it even possible to do so? What ideas about Russian culture do you have coming into this course?
Jan. 17: Russia's Geography/Language
Jan. 22: Russian Orthodoxy
Jan. 27: Kyivan Russia/The Russian Orthodox Church
- A Brief History of Kyivan Rus
- Optional Reading
- "The Pouchenie of Vladimir Monomakh"
- "The Igor Tale"
- "Ilarion's Sermon on Law and Grace"
- "Russia's Conversion to Christianity" The link is to excerpts from the Primary Chronicle.
Jan. 29: Muscovite Russia
- Correspondence between Prince Kurbski and Ivan the Terrible
- Excerpts from the "Domostroy"
- Excerpts from the "Ulozhenie"
Jan. 31: Icons
Feb. 3: Muscovite Architecture and Culture
- "The Life of Sergius of Radonezh"
- Orison on the Life and Death of Grand Prince Dmitry Ivanovich" available on Blackboard
- "The White Cowl" available on Blackboard
- "Ilya of Murom and Nightingale the Robber."
- "Shemiaka's Judgment" available on Blackboard
Russian Folk Tales Please use the links to read the following tales: Morozko, Frog Princess, The Golden Fish, Alyonushka, Baba Yaga, Ilya of Murom, and The Tale of Ivan and the Gray Wolf
Feb. 5 Russian Cities
- "Sadko" available on Blackboard
Feb. 7 Time of Troubles/Schism in the Russian Orthodox ChurchReflection Paper 2: (Due date: Oct. 1) How does the role of the Russian Orthodox Church in Russia compare to the role of religions in the US? What is the relationship between the ROC and other religious organizations in Russia? What is the relationship between the ROC and secular organizations in Russia?
- Excerpts from Avvakum's autobiography on Blackboard.
Feb. 10 Peter the Great
Feb. 12 St. Petersburg/East meets West
Feb. 14 Catherine the Great
Reflection Paper 3: (Due date TBA) What does "westernization" mean, when we talk of Peter the First's and Catherine the Second's reforms? What are some of elements of Russian culture that were seen as non-western? How did “westernization” affect the various ethnic and religious minorities in the Russian Empire? Peter’s reforms are typically discussed in positive terms. Can you think of any negative ramifications of his “westernization” of Russia?
Feb. 17 The Russian "Enlightenment" of the 1700s. All below reading materials available on Blackboard.
- Lomonosov's "Meditations"
- Act I of Fonvizin's "The Minor"
- Derzhavin's "Ode to the Deity"
- Excerpt from Radishchev's "Journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow"
- Karamzin's "Poor Liza."
First midterm will be Wednesday, Feb. 19. Please bring an orange scantron.
Return to Professor Qualin's Main Russian Culture Page